Changeable exhibitor



Jan. 16, 1951 s. s. TARPINIAN CHANGEABLE EXHIBITOR 9 Sheets$heet 2 Patented Jan. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to changeable sign exhibitors and more particularly to an exhibitor for public conveyances for indicating the name of the next stopping point or street.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved changeable exhibitor of the kind to be more particularly described hereinafter which is operated electrically for moving a sign from a concealed magazine into a position where it may be readily viewed by the occupants of the vehicle.

Another object of this invention is to provide an exhibitor or" this kind which is adapted to be electrically operated in a complete cycle when initially started by the operator or conductor on the vehicle or in any other suitable manner.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which is of such construction that the number of cards for stops may be varied according to the route over which the vehicle is used by merely adding or removing the necessary cards from the magazine.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind having an elevating means for removing and reinserting the cards progressively from the sliding rack or magazine, the rack and elevator being operated in time relation to each other for progressively removing and reinserting a card in the rack and moving the magazine so that the subsequent card may be moved to a viewed position.

A further object of this invention is to provide an electrically operated sign exhibitor of this kind having an electric motor which is initially started in a selected direction by the operator of the vehicle or other suitable means for depressing momentarily a starting switch and which is stopped by the opening of a limit switch actuated in timed relation to the rotation of the motor.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide an electrically operated brake for the motor of the device for braking the motor shaft when the electric circuit is broken and for releasing the motor shaft for rotation when the motor is in operation so that the device will not coast past the stopping points nor will the device be actuated by vibration or other factors tending to cause the gears to creep or rotate.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

moved of a changeable exhibitor constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 44 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detailed section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detailed section showing the relation of the driving gear to the driven gear of the mechanism operating means,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detailed section of the guide means in the magazine,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detailed section of the limit switch and the operator therefor,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 99 of Figure 2.

In the drawings, the numeral i 5 indicates generally a changeable exhibitor for supporting changeable signs in a public conveyance or ve- Figure 1 is a top plan view with the cover rehicle having regular stopping points.

The changeable exhibitor I5 is particularly arranged for use in a subway or bus or the like. The exhibitor i5 is formed of an elongated fiat housing it having a bottom section I! and a hinged cover 18. The cover i8 is hingedly connected to the bottom section I! at the rear end thereof by a hinge IS).

The forward end of the cover is adapted to be secured to the bottom section I! by a latch 20 carried partially by the cover and partially by the bottom portion of the housing. The bottom section I! is formed of a bottom wall 2| which is substantially fiat throughout its length and having the side walls 22 thereof turned upwardly.

The bottom wall 25 of the housing is provided with an elongated slot or transverse opening 23 which extends substantially across the bottom intermediate the length thereof. A magazine 24 is slidably supported within the housing 16 for sliding movement from one end to the other along the bottom wall 2!. The magazine 24 is formed of a pair of elongated bars 25 and 26 which extend transversely of the housing [6 and are enclosed therein.

The bars 25 and 26 are spaced apart longitudinally by bolts 2'! on which are supported sign racks or guide members 28 and spacers 29 between each of the guide members. The guide member 28 is formed of a fiat piece of metal extending vertically in the housing l6 and spaced apart from an adjacent strip 28 by a spacer 29.

3 The longitudinally spaced apart guides 28 form separate guide means in which signs 3e are adapted to be slidably disposed for vertical sliding movement hi the racks and. in the magazine 24.

A longitudinally extending screw 3! is rotatably mounted on each of the opposite sides of the housing :6 and extends along the length thereof. The ends of the screws 3! are rotatably supported within bearings 32 fixed on the bottom wall 2! of the housing 16. A nut 35 is fixed to or formed on the outer end of each of the magazine bars 25 and 26 and the screw Si is engageable through these nut members for sliding the magazine longitudinally in the housing 16.

For sliding the magazine along the length of the housing 16 I have provided an electric motor 35 for rotating the screws 3! by means of a suitable gearing system. The motor 35 is provided with a shaft 36 which extends through both ends of the housing thereof. A screw 3? is fixed on one end of the shaft 38 for direct rotation by the motor. A gear 38 is provided for engagement with and rotation by the screw 31. The gear 38 is fixed on shaft 39 which is rotatably supported between bearings 4i and Q2 fixed to the bottom wall 2! of the housing.

A pair of sprockets A l and 45 are also fixed on the shaft 3's and are adapted to be rotated upon rotation of the motor shaft BE. A counter shaft 46 is rotatably supported on opposite sides of the housing It and extends longitudinally parallel to and outwardly of the shafts or screws 3|. The shafts 55 are rotatably supported in bearings 41 fixed to the bottom wall 2| of the housing !6. A sprocket 53 is fixed on one end of the counter shaft 46 and a chain 139 is trained between the sprockets 48 and the sprockets it and 35 in the drive shaft 3% Upon rotation of the motor shaft 36 the counter shafts 56 are adapted to be rotated simultaneously. The screws or shafts 35 which actuate the magazine 24 are driven intermittently from the counter shaft 45 for purposes to be described hereinafter.

The gear driving mechanism for each of the screws or shafts 3| which operate the magazine 24 are identical, being arranged oppositely so that rotation of the motor shaft will effect rotation of the supporting shaft 35 for sliding the magazine in one direction in the housing iii. A gear 59 is fixed on each of the counter shafts 46 and is formed with gear teeth which extend one-third of the circumference of the gear. The remaining two-thirds portion of the gear 5! is fiat as indicated by the numeral 52 in Figure 6.

A gear 54 is fixed to or secured on one end of the shaft or screw 3! for engagement with the gear 50. Gear teeth 55 are disposed entirely about the circumference of the gear 54 for engagement with the gear teeth 5! on the gear The ratio of the gears 59 and 54 is 3 to 1 so that the gear 54 will be rotated in one complete revolution by engagement with the teeth 5! on onethird of the circumference of the gear 59.

The housing I6 is formed with a downwardly extending viewing chamber 56 fixed to or formed on the lower side of the bottom 2! below the transverse opening or slot 23. The viewing chamber 5-6 is formed of a transverse downwardly extending rear end wall 5? and a flat bottom wall 58. The bottom wall 58 extends substantially parallel to the bottom 2| and is spaced downwardly therefrom.

The front wall 59 of the chamber 56 is formed 4 l with a transversely extending transparent wall 65 which may be made of glass or other suitable transparent material. An elevating means is provided in the viewing chamber 56 for lowering a card 323 from the magazine 24 into a position within the chamber 56 where the indicia inscribed or printed on the card 38 may be viewed from without as by the occupants of the vehicle within which the exhibitor I5 is installed.

The elevating means also raises the card 3!! back into the magazine so that another card may then be moved into the viewing chamber after movement of the magazine 24. The magazine 2 is provided for intermittent sliding movement along the length of the housing It for successively disposing a subsequent card 3% over the aperture 23 in the bottom wall 2|.

A guide means El is formed in the chamber 56 in the opposite sides thereof for guiding the cards 3 in their sliding movement from the magazine. The guide means BI is formed of a pair of vertical fiat plates 62 longitudinally spaced apart between which the ends of the cards 30 are adapted to be slidingly engaged.

An elevator E l is disposed between the plates 52 for raising and lowering the guides 39 in the guide 64. The elevating means 64 comprises an elongated fiat bar 65 which extends completely across the chamber 55 and terminates outwardly of the guide means 6!.

The bar 65 is enlarged at its terminal ends as at 66 and a transverse slot 61 is formed in the ends of the bar within which an operator for raising and lowering the bar may be engaged. The elevating means 64 is driven or operated in intermittent movement in relation to the movement of the magazine 24. The elevating rod 65 is normally in the raised position when the magazine 2a is in motion. The elevator 64 is adapted to complete a cycle of its movement between successive movements of the magazine 24. A cycle of movement for the elevator includes the upward movement of the rod E55 for returning a sign 39 into the magazine, and the downward movement for bringing the next sign into chamber 55.

The elevating means 6 is actuated. in a different relation to the movement of the magazine 2 by a gear means operatively connected to the countershaft 45. A gear '16 is fixed on the countershaft 46 at the opposite end of the shaft from the gear 58. The gear m is provided with teeth H which extend two-thirds of the distance about the circumference of the gear. The teeth ii of the gear in are adapted to engage with and between the teeth '52 of a gear M mounted on a stub shaft 15.

The ratio between the gears 79 and T4 is also three to one as was the ratio between the gears 55 and 5d. The gear i4 is provided for making two complete revolutions upon the rotation of the gear "it with the gear teeth E2.

A sprocket i5 is fixed on the .stub shaft to be rotated upon rotation of the gear M. .A second sprocket ll is disposed vertically below the sprocket "56 on a stub shaft 18. A chain '19 is trained about the sprockets l6 and W for simultaneous rotation of both of the sprockets.

An outwardly extending pin 89 is fixed on the gear chain '59 and extends outwardly therefrom. A pin 85 is adapted to be slidingly disposed within the slot 5? on the end of the elevating bar '65. Upon rotation of the gear 10, the gear l -f, and sprockets F6 and W, the gear pin 80 will be moved with the chain 10 in its-complete distance and length of travel.

The sign or card is adapted to be disposed within the chamber 56 where it may be viewed and from which the cycle of operation of the exhibitor I5 is started.

When the card 39 is disposed at rest in the chamber 56 no power is being applied to the motor 35. When it is desired to change the sign in the chamber 55, the motor is started by closing the starter switch connected therewith and shunted across switch 3|. This switch may be closed either by the operator of the vehicle or by some suitable mechanical switch operating device.

The initial movement of the gear train connected to the motor 35 will raise the elevator shaft 65 for moving the sign Bil from the chamber 56 back into the magazine 24.

In the drawings, the gears are disposed in their relation at rest just prior to the initial movement of the gear train. When the card 3a; is placed back in the magazine 24, the flat spot of the gear it will be in engagement with the gear 14 and the gear teeth 5! of the gear 5% will be moved into engagement with the gear 5% for rotating the screw shaft 34 and moving the magazine 2:3 to a position where the successive card or sign 39 will be disposed over the opening 23.

Continued movement of the gears connected to the motor 35 will effect the lowering of the ele vator shaft 65 whereby the next selected card 30 may be lowered into the viewing chamber 55. The flat spot 52 of the gear 59 is adapted to register with the teeth 55 of the gear 5-; during the operation of the elevating mechanism and the flat spot of the gear it is adapted to register with the teeth l2 of the gear Hi during the operation of the magazine 24.

When the elevating shaft 55 reaches its extreme bottom position, a limit switch 8! is engaged by a pin 82 carried by the gear 58 for breaking the circuit to the motor 35. As the gear 68 makes one complete revoiution for each complete cycle of operation of the elevating means and the magazine moving operators, the limit switch will be moved to the open position after each cycle of operation. The pin 82 on the gear d8 is adapted to engage a beveled switch operator 85. The switch operator 8% comprises a hand e for moving the switch contacts to the open position. The switch M is normally spring biased to the closed position. The switch (not shown in the draw- When the motor circuit is broken by the limit switch 8!, the circuit to the solenoid 90 is also broken and the brake is applied on the shaft 36 to hold the shaft against movement caused by vibration or other extraneous forces.

In the operation of the changeable exhibitor 15, when the operating switch (not shown) is initially closed, the motor 35 will start rotating and the brake 85 will be released. Starting at the cycle at a point where the sign 30 has been exposed in the chamber 56, the counter shaft 46 will be constantly rotated through the sprocket and chain and gear connection to the shaft 36 of the motor. hibitor will start at a point indicated in Figure 5.

The gear ii! is in engagement with the gear l4 so the gear M will be rotated for raising the elevated rod 65 formoving the card 38 upwardly I through the opening 23 into the magazine 24.

As the rod 65 reaches its extreme upper position, the gear teeth H will move out ofengagee ment with the gear teeth 12 so the flat spot of the gear iii will be disposed over the gear 14. At this time the gear teeth 5! will be initially moved into engagementwith the gear teeth 55 on the ings) which initially starts the operation of the motor 35, may be connected in shunt across the switch 8! and is normally in the open position.

'In this manner when the starting switch is initially closed, the circuit will be completed to the motor 35 and the initial movement of the gear train will cause the pin 82 to become disengaged from the switch 8! whereby the motor circuit will be complete through the switch 8! irrespective of the position of the operating switch. In this manner there is no necessity for holding the operating switch closed during the operation of the driving means for the changeable exhibitor.

In order that the motor 35 will stop immediately upon breaking of the circuit in the switch 8|, I have provided a brake 85 on the shaft 36 on the opposite side from the screw 3'5. A wheel or drum 86 is fixed on the shaft 36 and a brake band 8'! fixed to the bottom wall 2| of the housing IE is provided about the drum 88.

A lever 88 is rockably mounted intermediate its length above the bottom 2! between pivot brackets 89 and is connected at one end to the brake bands 81. A solenoid operator 9!! -for the shaft 3!. The shaft 3| will then be rotated in one complete revolution for moving the magazine 24 a short distance for disposing the adjacent or successive card 30 over the opening 23. i

As the gear teeth 5! move out of engagement with the teeth 55, the gear teeth l'l again come into engagement with the gear teeth l2 whereupon the sprockets 16 and T! are again rotated and the elevated rod 65 is moved downwardly to its'extreme lower position.

As the elevated rod 65 moves downwardly, the successive card 30 slides down into the viewing chamber 56 in the guide means 6| provided there- When the gear teeth H have moved half of the distance between the ends thereof or another one-third of the rotation of the gear 10, the pin 82 on the gear 48.will come into engagement with the handle 84 of the limit switch 8!. The cycle of operation will cease at this point with the gear M disposed midway the length of the gear teeth I! on the gear 70.

This construction and arrangement is such that the carriage and the exhibitor may be op- .erated in a. reverse movement as necessary in vehicles of the public route transportation type on a return trip. The carriage and operation is reversible at the selection of the operator whereby accidental errors in exhibiting the cards may be corrected when the error is discovered.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a changeable exhibitor including a housing, a magazine slidable in said housing, a plu- --rality of spaced apart sign guide means in said magazine, and sign guide means in said housing 7 adapted to successively register with said sign guide'means in said magazine; magazine actuat- The initial movement of the exing means comprising screw thread means rotatably carried by said housing and threadedly engaging said magazine, a stub shaft rotatable in said housing, means adapted to rotate said stub shaft, a gear on said stub shait having teeth disposed about one-third of the periphery thereof, gear means on said screw thread means adapted to engage said teeth and to be rotated only during such engagement to advance said magazine a distance equal to that between the sign guide means therein, and sign elevating means comprising a second gear on said stub shaft having teeth disposed about two-thirds of the periphery thereof, the teeth of said first and second gears being circumferentially offset whereby said gears will be effective progressively, an elevating bar slidably disposed between said housing sign guide means, means connected to said elevating bar and adapted to engage said latter teeth for raising and lowering said bar during such engagement whereby said magazine will be moved when said elevating bar is immobile, and said elevating bar will be lowered and raised when said magazine is stationary.

2. In a changeable exhibitor including a housing, a magazine slidable in said housing, a plurality of successive sign guide means in said magazine, and sign guide means in said housing adapted to successively register with said successive sign guide means in said magazine; magazine actuating means comprising screw thread means rotatable in said housing and threadedly engaging said magazine, a stub shaft disposed parallel to said screw thread means and rotatably carried by said housing, means for rotating said stub shaft, a gear on said stub shaft having teeth disposed about one-third of the circumference thereof, gear means fixed on said screw thread means adapted to engage said teeth and to be rotated one revolution during such engagement, and sign elevating means comprising second gear on said stub shaft having teeth disposed about two-thirds of the circumference thereof, the teeth of said first and second gears being circumierentially ofiset whereby said gears will be effective progressively, gear means carried by said housing adapted to engage said teeth on said second gear and to be rotated two revolutions during such engagement, a driving sprocket connected to said latter gear means, an idler sprocket disposed below said driving sprocket, an endless chain trained over said driving and idler sprockets, said chain being adapted to make a complete circuit for each two revolutions or said latter gear means, a horizontally disposed vertically slidable elevating bar carried between said housing sign guide means, and means operatively connecting said bar to said endless chain whereby said magazine will be moved when said elevating bar is immobile, and said elevating bar will be lowered and raised when said magazine is stationary.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said elevating bar is formed with an elongated slot adjacent to at least one end thereof, and said last named means includes a pin carried by said chain adapted to engage in said slot.

SAMUEL S. TARPINIAN.

REFERENQES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 239,910 Woolston Apr. 5, 1881 524,421 Lambert Aug. 14, 1894 530,987 Fischer Dec. 18, 1894 646,168 Hansen Mar. 27, 1900 757,086 Bosshard Apr. 12, 1994 845,986 Wadsworth et al. Mar. 5, 1907 1,864,171 Combridge June 21, 1932 2,048,176 Briney July 21, 1936 

